Hariharasuthashtakam a.k.a. Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam is a sloka on Lord Ayyappa composed by K Kulathur Iyer and it is said that it was sung for the first time in Sabarimala temple by Swami Vimochanananda in 1955. This hymn is sung as a lullaby to the Lord when the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum are closed every night. The chief priest (Melsanthi) and other priests stand on either side of the deity and recite the hymn. While singing the hymn, the priests leave the Sanctum Sanctorum one by one without making noise. The Chief priest starts putting off the lamps one by one when the song is halfway through and when the final line is sung, the last lamp is extinguished and he closes the door, locks it for the night.

Those who have heard the rendition at the Sannidhanam, have poignant memories.

॥हरिहरसुताष्टकम्॥

हरिवरासनं विश्वमोहनं हरिदधीश्वरं आराध्यपाधुकम्। अरिविमर्धनं नित्यनर्तनं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥१

शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामि शरणं अय्यप्पा शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामि शरणं अय्यप्पा चरणकीर्तनं भक्तमानसं भरणलोलुपं नर्तनालसम्। अरुणभासुरं भूतनायकं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥२

शरणं प्रणयसत्यकं प्राणनायकं प्रणतकल्पकं सुप्रभाञ्चितम्। प्रणवमन्दिरं कीर्तनप्रियं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥३

शरणं तुरगवाहनं सुन्दराननं वरगधायुधं वेदवर्णितम्। गुरुकृपाकरं कीर्तनप्रियं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥४

शरणं त्रिभुवनार्चितं देवतात्मकं त्रिनयनं प्रभुं दिव्यदेशिकम्। त्रिदशपूजितं चिन्तितप्रदं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥५

शरणं भवभयापहं भावुकावहं भुवनमोहनं भूतिभूषणम् धवलवाहनं दिव्यवारणं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥६

शरणं कलमृदुस्मितं सुन्दराननं कलभकोमलं गात्रमोहनम् कलभकेसरी वाजिवाहनं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥७

शरणं श्रितजनप्रियं चिन्तितप्रदं श्रुतिविभूषणं साधुजीवनम् श्रुतिमनोहरं गीतलालसं हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये॥८ शरणं